Australian health care system better than US

President Donald Trump was simply saying nice things to an ally when he called Australia's universal healthcare system better than the US system, and he does not think his country should adopt a similar approach, the White House said on Friday. It has long come under attack by conservatives.

Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who had proposed a single-payer health care system during his 2016 presidential campaign, burst into laughter after seeing a clip of Trump praising the Australian system.

The pair were originally meant to meet in midtown Manhattan, but the introduction was delayed after Trump made a decision to remain in Washington to celebrate Republicans' House vote on a bill to repeal and replace Obamacare. "That's great. Let's take a look at the Australian health care system, and let's move", said Sanders shortly afterward in an interview on MSNBC. "The president has just said it!"

Donald Trump and Malcolm Turnbull on Friday.

Relations between the two leaders were strained over President Trump's reluctance to honour a deal to accept up to 1,200 refugees from Australian detention camps. "The Australian healthcare system provides healthcare to all of its people at a fraction of the cost than we do", Mr Sanders tweeted on Saturday. "Thank you, Mr. President".

"I'll be honest - I didn't like the look of our prime minister being kept waiting for three hours, but I guess there is not much you can do about that", Labor Party leader Bill Shorten told reporters.

Australian health care system better than US

The health care reform that Trump wants to bring into law would leave more than 24 million people without health insurance, according to a report by the independent Congressional Budget Office.

Whether or not the president was confused about the aims of the AHCA or merely throwing Prime Minister Turnbull an insincere compliment, Sanders has remained adamant the bill will not pass the Senate.

"Well, Mr. President, you're right, in Australia and every other major country on Earth they guarantee health care to all people". He said the US would have "great" health care very soon.

Of course, the truth is, Trump doesn't really know what the American model is, how the Australian system works, or the benefits of either.

Australia's 'Medicare' system is a "universal access" public insurance program that grants citizens free access to doctors, optometrists, and public hospitals free of charge.

The tweet was accompanied by a video detailing Australia's medicare system, saying it guarantees better service at half the price of United States healthcare.